Treasury assessments of the costs of climate change policies fail to take account of the economic and health benefits of cutting emissions, it has been claimed.

Economic modelling carried out for the Treasury by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ignores the financial impacts of climate change, such as the flooding that damaged the UK earlier this year.

It also fails to include the potential for creating new jobs in industries such as offshore wind, and the economic and health benefits of tackling emissions, including reduced illness from air pollution, according to analysis by Harvard economist Dr Frank Ackerman.

Campaigners warned the "one-sided" modelling was influencing ministers to water down targets for cutting emissions in the 2020s.

The model from HMRC finds the targets in the fourth carbon budget, which limits the UK's emissions between 2023-27, would reduce economic output compared to weaker goals, a ccording to the report by Dr Ackerman and Joseph Daniel of US-based Synapse Energy Economics.

But simply including conservative figures for the benefits of reducing air pollution wipes out the apparent loss, the analysis claims.

The "computable general equilibrium" (CGE) model, developed for analysing changes to tax policy and recently applied to climate change policies, is not designed to calculate potential employment benefits of public policies, but assumes that everyone already has a job, the report said.

It is also not designed to evaluate health and environmental benefits, calculating only the costs of the policy.

And it focuses only on the UK economy, as if the country is acting alone to cut carbon, the report said.

Dr Ackerman said: "Rapid reduction in carbon emissions will improve public health, create new jobs, and help launch promising new industries and technologies.

"An approach that ignores all these benefits - as the HMRC CGE model does - is sure to misunderstand the real economics of climate policy.

"A person who chooses to wear a blindfold will often report that there is nothing to see, but this tells us more about the viewer than his surroundings.

"The same is true for economic approaches that are blindfolded by their own assumptions, unable to see that they are surrounded by multiple good reasons for a proactive response to the threat of climate change."

Friends of the Earth Economics Campaigner David Powell said: "This report lifts the lid on the Treasury's secretive economic modelling on climate change and shows that it's riddled with flaws and worrying omissions.

"The one-sided model focuses disproportionately on the costs of developing a low-carbon future, while downplaying or overlooking key benefits - and completely ignores the damaging impacts of climate change on our economy.

"That's like moaning about the cost of building a new hospital without considering the benefit of saving lives.

"David Cameron mustn't allow his Chancellor to point to skewed economic models to help torpedo crucial efforts to put the UK in the forefront of tackling climate change."

WWF Head of Energy and Climate Policy Nick Molho added: "Tackling climate change means less risk of the kind of devastating floods that hit the UK earlier this year as well as reducing dangerous air pollution from burning fossil fuels.

"A model which purports to say anything about the economic impacts of tackling climate change and yet ignores the benefits of protecting our environment and our health is quite clearly very problematic."

An HM Treasury spokesman said: " The Government uses the best modelling available, and the impact assessment for the fourth carbon budget uses a range of approaches, clearly setting out the limitations of each.

"Under the fourth carbon budget, government will aim to reduce emissions domestically as far as practical and affordable."

Comments (3)

"WWF Head of Energy and Climate Policy Nick Molho added: "Tackling climate change means less risk of the kind of devastating floods that hit the UK earlier this year as well as reducing dangerous air pollution from burning fossil fuels."

What a clown

"WWF Head of Energy and Climate Policy Nick Molho added: "Tackling climate change means less risk of the kind of devastating floods that hit the UK earlier this year as well as reducing dangerous air pollution from burning fossil fuels."
What a clowncollos25

We are still 2°C colder than when the Romans were here. -
And sadly there has been NO global warming for the last 17 yrs.

To put the carbon scare into perspective – CO2 has increased from 3parts per 10,000 to 4 parts per 10,000 in….150yrs. -

In the last 30yrs CO2 fertilisation correlated with an 11 per cent increase in foliage cover across parts of the arid areas studied in Australia, North America, the Middle East and Africa, See-
http://www.csiro.au/
Portals/Media/Desert
s-greening-from-risi
ng-CO2.aspx.

To live in a lush green clean world we actually need 3x present CO2 levels.....ask any botanist.

According to the IPCC, "Wild weather" is NOT increasing, hurricanes & tornados are less powerful & less frequent than 20yrs ago. -
The met office say - 1929/30 was Britain's wettest year in the last 2 centuries. -
The average temperature in 2013 was the same as 1666. -
The rate of sea-level rise ( from NASA, NOAA & Met Office data, published in Nature Climate Change March 23) shows that the rate of sea level rise is 2.4 mm/year = 9inchs/100yrs. -
We are still 2°C colder than when the Romans were here. -
And sadly there has been NO global warming for the last 17 yrs.
To put the carbon scare into perspective – CO2 has increased from 3parts per 10,000 to 4 parts per 10,000 in….150yrs. -
In the last 30yrs CO2 fertilisation correlated with an 11 per cent increase in foliage cover across parts of the arid areas studied in Australia, North America, the Middle East and Africa, See-
http://www.csiro.au/
Portals/Media/Desert
s-greening-from-risi
ng-CO2.aspx.
To live in a lush green clean world we actually need 3x present CO2 levels.....ask any botanist.save energy

Economic modelling carried out for the Treasury by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ignores the financial impacts of climate change...

Here's something the HMRC won't ignore... in a few years from now I will have a phone with an Air Pollution App which will tell me if Southampton's traffic pollution is exceeding EU legal limits if so it will automatically fine all the reasonable parties...

Environmental information about CO2, airborne dust and pollen will no longer be collected only at isolated measuring stations. From now on, cyclists, bus drivers and the man in the street will be able to do their bit.

Twenty portable sensors will be issued to volunteers in the city and to employees such as traffic wardens who are exposed to urban pollution at work.

By Åse Dragland

24 Feb 2014

"AT PRESENT, ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS ARE MADE USING EXPENSIVE STATIONS SPREAD AROUND THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER, NOW THAT EVERYBODY HAS A MOBILE PHONE, AND WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, WE OURSELVES CAN CONTRIBUTE WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF DATA," SAYS ARNE BERRE AT SINTEF ICT.

"More and better information is particularly valuable on days of high pollution or high pollen counts. Making their own measurements will get the general public involved in their own environment. Everybody can now receive useful feedback about the conditions around us.

"TECHNOLOGY WILL BE DEVELOPED BY WAY OF THE EU PROJECTS CITI-SENSE AND CITI-SENSE-MOB. THESE WILL ENABLE ORDINARY PEOPLE TO COLLECT ENVIRONMENTAL DATA. Research scientists from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) and SINTEF are already well under way with the Norwegian contribution."

SENSORS ABOARD BUSES

"We are now having discussions with Oslo Municipality about fitting buses with sensors to measure air quality along the roads. The bus drivers themselves will also find this information useful as they will see how acceleration and driving style affects the results and can learn to drive in a more ecologically friendly way" says Berre.

Magne Elvik, Operations Manager at Nobina Oslo Vest, confirms that sensors will be tested aboard two gas-powered buses at the beginning of April on routes around Grorud, Sinsen and Oslo Central Station, as well as out to Fornebu. If the tests go according to plan, a further eight buses will be included in the experiment.

ON STREETLAMPS AND ELECTRIC BIKES

Last year was mostly dedicated to testing new technology and getting everything to function so that data could be obtained for later use. The actual measurements will take place in the coming months.

Nuria Castell at NILU says that a total of 40 static sensors will be deployed in Oslo. "Air quality is a matter of public concern in Norway, too," she says. "We will fit sensors to streetlamps, for example, to cover city centre areas where pollution is high, and will also monitor neighbourhoods adjacent to Ring Roads 2 and 3, and at Bygdøy.

Twenty portable sensors will be issued to volunteers in the city and to employees such as traffic wardens who are exposed to urban pollution at work. The citizens of Oslo will also be able to measure air quality when cycling, and at least one sensor will be fitted to an electric bike.

"Admittedly there have been some delays," Castell confirms, "But we are starting this spring with two buses, a bicycle and five fixed sensors. By the end of the summer we aim to have full distribution involving more buses, and in the autumn all the fixed sensors will be installed, as well as those carried by people. Measurements will then be carried out in the city throughout 2015."

LAPEL BUTTONS

In December, SINTEF tested hand-held units for collecting weather and wind data as well as a small lapel button (see video) for measuring UV radiation.

"We have now sent the equipment to Bilbao for large-scale testing," says Arne Berre.

This is because around thirty partners in Europe are busy with measurements and tests. Among other things, they will provide both indoor and outdoor measurements of CO2 levels in schools. With such a large amount of data, the EU will be able to make comparisons and obtain a basis for developing joint solutions as well as for sharing technology.

The next step will deal with how to successfully involve people in future by means of user participation and work groups. The plan is to test the technology with selected individuals in 2014 and then make it more generally available during 2015.

See the www.citi-sense.eu and www.citi-sense-mob.e
u websites for further information.

KEY FACTS:

• The EU's Citi-Sense environmental project (2012-2016) will measure the pollution to which individual citizens are exposed. This is achieved using mini-sensors and other electronic equipment to collect environmental data for an online data register. The objective of the project is to improve quality of life in towns and cities. The project attempts to motivate the local population and improve awareness. 27 partner institutions from nine cities in Europe are involved. The project is headed by NILU.

• The EU's Citi-Sense-MOB project will run from 2013 to 2015 and involves installing sensors on mobile platforms (buses and bicycles) to make regular measurements. Each of the four Norwegian partners has its own principal focus – NILU on the quality of sensor data, SINTEF on integration towards global standards and data visualisation, Kjeller Innovation on the use of sensor data in other applications and UNIK on user involvement.

• THE SENSORS ARE MANUFACTURED BY VARIOUS EUROPEAN COMPANIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, SERBIA AND SPAIN.

Economic modelling carried out for the Treasury by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ignores the financial impacts of climate change...
Here's something the HMRC won't ignore... in a few years from now I will have a phone with an Air Pollution App which will tell me if Southampton's traffic pollution is exceeding EU legal limits if so it will automatically fine all the reasonable parties...
Read on.. The EU is backing ( Doable Project) low cost continuous pollution monitoring via mobile phones..
YOU AND I WILL MONITOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental information about CO2, airborne dust and pollen will no longer be collected only at isolated measuring stations. From now on, cyclists, bus drivers and the man in the street will be able to do their bit.
Twenty portable sensors will be issued to volunteers in the city and to employees such as traffic wardens who are exposed to urban pollution at work.
By Åse Dragland
24 Feb 2014
"AT PRESENT, ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS ARE MADE USING EXPENSIVE STATIONS SPREAD AROUND THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER, NOW THAT EVERYBODY HAS A MOBILE PHONE, AND WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, WE OURSELVES CAN CONTRIBUTE WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF DATA," SAYS ARNE BERRE AT SINTEF ICT.
"More and better information is particularly valuable on days of high pollution or high pollen counts. Making their own measurements will get the general public involved in their own environment. Everybody can now receive useful feedback about the conditions around us.
"TECHNOLOGY WILL BE DEVELOPED BY WAY OF THE EU PROJECTS CITI-SENSE AND CITI-SENSE-MOB. THESE WILL ENABLE ORDINARY PEOPLE TO COLLECT ENVIRONMENTAL DATA. Research scientists from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) and SINTEF are already well under way with the Norwegian contribution."
SENSORS ABOARD BUSES
"We are now having discussions with Oslo Municipality about fitting buses with sensors to measure air quality along the roads. The bus drivers themselves will also find this information useful as they will see how acceleration and driving style affects the results and can learn to drive in a more ecologically friendly way" says Berre.
Magne Elvik, Operations Manager at Nobina Oslo Vest, confirms that sensors will be tested aboard two gas-powered buses at the beginning of April on routes around Grorud, Sinsen and Oslo Central Station, as well as out to Fornebu. If the tests go according to plan, a further eight buses will be included in the experiment.
ON STREETLAMPS AND ELECTRIC BIKES
Last year was mostly dedicated to testing new technology and getting everything to function so that data could be obtained for later use. The actual measurements will take place in the coming months.
Nuria Castell at NILU says that a total of 40 static sensors will be deployed in Oslo. "Air quality is a matter of public concern in Norway, too," she says. "We will fit sensors to streetlamps, for example, to cover city centre areas where pollution is high, and will also monitor neighbourhoods adjacent to Ring Roads 2 and 3, and at Bygdøy.
Twenty portable sensors will be issued to volunteers in the city and to employees such as traffic wardens who are exposed to urban pollution at work. The citizens of Oslo will also be able to measure air quality when cycling, and at least one sensor will be fitted to an electric bike.
"Admittedly there have been some delays," Castell confirms, "But we are starting this spring with two buses, a bicycle and five fixed sensors. By the end of the summer we aim to have full distribution involving more buses, and in the autumn all the fixed sensors will be installed, as well as those carried by people. Measurements will then be carried out in the city throughout 2015."
LAPEL BUTTONS
In December, SINTEF tested hand-held units for collecting weather and wind data as well as a small lapel button (see video) for measuring UV radiation.
"We have now sent the equipment to Bilbao for large-scale testing," says Arne Berre.
This is because around thirty partners in Europe are busy with measurements and tests. Among other things, they will provide both indoor and outdoor measurements of CO2 levels in schools. With such a large amount of data, the EU will be able to make comparisons and obtain a basis for developing joint solutions as well as for sharing technology.
The next step will deal with how to successfully involve people in future by means of user participation and work groups. The plan is to test the technology with selected individuals in 2014 and then make it more generally available during 2015.
See the www.citi-sense.eu and www.citi-sense-mob.e
u websites for further information.
KEY FACTS:
• The EU's Citi-Sense environmental project (2012-2016) will measure the pollution to which individual citizens are exposed. This is achieved using mini-sensors and other electronic equipment to collect environmental data for an online data register. The objective of the project is to improve quality of life in towns and cities. The project attempts to motivate the local population and improve awareness. 27 partner institutions from nine cities in Europe are involved. The project is headed by NILU.
• The EU's Citi-Sense-MOB project will run from 2013 to 2015 and involves installing sensors on mobile platforms (buses and bicycles) to make regular measurements. Each of the four Norwegian partners has its own principal focus – NILU on the quality of sensor data, SINTEF on integration towards global standards and data visualisation, Kjeller Innovation on the use of sensor data in other applications and UNIK on user involvement.
• THE SENSORS ARE MANUFACTURED BY VARIOUS EUROPEAN COMPANIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, SERBIA AND SPAIN.
http://www.sintef.no
/home/Press-Room/Res
earch-News/You-and-I
-will-monitor-the-en
vironment/
,,,Dan Soton

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